Shaft’s 40th Anniversary “MADOGATARI Exhibition”

Right before Christmas Shaft celebrated their 40th anniversary with the Madogatari Art Exhibition in Tokyo and Osaka. In Sapporo the exhibition will be hostet from Feb. 9th until Feb. 14th, 2016.
Shaft is well known for masterpieces like ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ) und ‘Monogatari’ (化物語).
During the six days of exhibition in Tokyo around 15.000 visitors have attended the event which was soon sold out.

We took the opportunity and visited the exhibition in Osaka!
Here is our report!

What is Shaft?

Shaft is a company that produces Japanese Animes and celebrated 2015 their 40th company anniversary.
Masterworks like the Monogatari series by Nishio Ishin (NishOisiN) and ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ which I mentioned before already won many prizes including the Grand Prize for Animation of the Japan Media Awards.
The company originally started as a coloring company for animation movies but later also started working on production.

Exhibition Highlights

The exhibition mainly focused on ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (魔法少女まどか☆マギカ) and the Monogatari series. It was subdivided into seven zones, each with a different theme.
Unfortunately it was forbidden to take photos but you can find a picture of the floor guide here.

The different zones

1. The Shaft-Character-Welcome-Tunnel
When you enter the exhibition you find yourself in some kind of a welcome-tunnel whose walls were decorated with images of Shaft’s heroes and heroines.

2. Symbolzone
As soon as you left the tunnel you had a very nice view on illustrations of Shafts main characters.
In Osaka we could find illustrations of Sayaka Miki, Kyoko Sakura (‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’) and Mayoi Hachikuji and Suruga Kanbara (Monogatari).

3. ‘Monogatari’ Zone
This area was full of original illustrations and scenes of the Bakemonogatari, Owarimonogatari and Kizumonogatari series. Addionally there has been small screens next to the images where you could watch excerpts of some of the episodes.

4. ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ Zone
In this area you could find original illustrationss and scenes of ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’. The wonderful atmosphere encouraged the visitor to dive into this fantasy world.
It was also possible to compare some scenes of the TV production with each corresponding scene of the movie production.
We have been able to watch one fourth of the concept movie which was written especially for this event.
We have heard that the version we have seen differs from the version that was shown in the Tokyo exhibition.

5. Key Animation Zone
Here you could find Shaft’s most important illustrations and scenes. Additionally you could experience some of the originals on an acrylic panel. For the event in Osaka they added addional 100 images.

6. Shaft Archive Zone
This area showed old illustrations and old recordings of the last 40 years. Pure Nostalgia!

7. End Card Zone
Here you could see all end cards which were shown at the end of each episode.
I wanted to see the all!

When you left the exhibition you came to a well decorated area where you could take photos.

“Monogatari” All characters

All main characters of ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’

Hitagi Senjogahara of ‘Monogatari’

Madoka Kaname of ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’

Hitagi Senjogahara and Madoka Kaname

Key Visual of the exhibition in Tokyo

Key Visual of the exhibition in OsakaSayaka and Kyoko of ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’, Hachikuji and Suruga Kanbaru of Monogatari

After you took photos you could buy merchandise at the merchandise corner.
That’s what we could get.
A brochure, a T-Shirt, a christmas card, straps and a Madogatari bag.

Summary

How did you like our report?
For us the visit was worth it! That depending on where the exhibition was hosted the shown content also changed shows us, how much love and thoughts went into the planning and hosting of the exhibition.
We definitely look forward to Shaft’s the next releases!

We want to give away all the loot that we got at the exhibition.
For more information please take a look at our Facebook page or Twitter!
Have a great start into the new year!

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